Russia says ready to expand nuclear coop with Iran

Russia is committed to expand cooperation with Iran in the nuclear sphere, after Iran takes control of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Russian Ambassador to Iran Levan Dzhagaryan said Moscow is ready to increase its nuclear cooperation with Tehran even after Iran takes full control of Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Russia is prepared to offer Iran further assistance on the use of peaceful nuclear energy following the handover of the nuclear facility to the Iranian side, Russia's state-run RIA Novosti quoted Dzhagaryan as saying.

He noted that a risk-free startup of the first phase of Bushehr power plant is Moscow's foremost priority.

The Russian ambassador reiterated that his country stands committed to international regulations while pursuing its own economic interests.

Earlier, Russian state company Rosatom's official said that talks about building new units in the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will begin after completion of the first unit.

The official said that the Russian side is ready to talk with Iran about cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy.

He added that the first priority now is delivering the first unit of the Bushehr Power Plant to the Iranian side.

The official reminded that primary consultations on construction of new units in the power plant have started by the Iranian side, but the real negotiation will be held after delivering the first unit.

He underlined that the cooperation should not be against international law and it should be upon economic principles.

Bushehr nuclear power plant officially became operational in September 2011, generating electricity at 40 percent of its capacity.

The 1,000-megawatt plant, which is operating under the full supervision of the IAEA, reached its maximum power generation capacity in August 2012.

Iran and Russia have assured the international community that the plant is fully compliant with high-level safety standards and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

The U.S. and some of its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies. However, Iran has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy for medical researches instead.